Is the Financial Retirement Model Broken?

A recent article from Motley Fool revealed startling numbers about retirement savings. While ten percent of 55-64 year olds have a nest egg of $730,405 or more, the vast majority have $305,302 or less in their retirement nest egg. The Government Accountability Office released a report last year ( http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/670153.pdf ) which, in part, spoke to the financial status of people ages 55-64. They found that 41% of households had no retirement savings while an additional 20% had up to $100,000 saved.

Rather than lash out at potential consequences to this today, I am going to look at it from another point of view.

We are now looking at the third generation of retiree’s preparedness for retirement and finding it the same as the last two: not enough in savings….by a long shot. Why?

I think this is so because I think that the financial retirement model is primarily geared for three paradigms: the rare individual who saves like crazy, the individual who is lucky in the company they keep (stock grants) and those individuals who either inherit or have a career, winnings, pension, or golden parachute that ensures their financial security.

I am going to go out on a limb and say saving for retirement is not within reach of most people. Our culture, while promoting saving does little to encourage it. Instead, our culture invests a lot of effort to help and guide people to part with their money.

We have tried to “make” and encourage people to save. They are not or cannot do it There is something broken here.

I’m just sayin’. What about you? Leave me a comment on your reaction to this.